April Ross, Jennifer Kessy split matches at FIVB Grand Slam

No. 1-seeded April Ross and Jennifer Kessy won their first match against Poland, but fell to Switzerland later Tuesday, splitting their first two pool-play volleyball matches at the FIVB Grant Slam in Long Beach.

Each team plays three pool-play matches in the 32-team main draw before 16 teams advance to a single-elimination bracket. On Tuesday, the women played two pool-play matches and the men played one.

Summer Ross and Emily Day beat Italy and Canada in other women’s matches, and Jennifer Fopma and Brooke Sweat defeated Canada. Whitney Pavlik and Annett “Nettie” Davis, filling in for Kerri Walsh Jennings, who is sidelined with an abdominal strain, knocked off Spain but lost to Australia.

On the men’s side, No. 4-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal took down Switzerland, No. 1-seeded Casey Patterson and Jake Gibb beat Italy and Ryan Doherty and Todd Rogers defeated Canada.

Stafford Slick and Casey Jennings were the only U.S. pairing to lose their tournament opener, falling to Latvia.

Matches continue Wednesday at 8 a.m. The women will conclude pool play and open the round of 16. The men will play their second pool-play matches.

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